Inkwell



S. J. ROBERTS INK WELL June 5, 1951 Filed Aug. 21, 1946 :5; 5+- 1..

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MM F M B Patented June 5, 1951 INKWELL Samuel J. Roberts, deceased, late of Scranton,

Pa, by Hazel S. Roberts, administratrix, Scranton, Pa.

Application August 21, 194.6, Serial No. 691,369

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in ink wells, particularly of the character of ink wells that are used in desks, such as school desks, and other writing surfaces in educational institutions.

The object of the invention is to improve the construction of ink wells especially for this purpose, to enable these to be manufactured at low cost, of materials that are not affected by ink, which cannot be removed without authorization, and are capable of use in many difierent types of desks and sizes of holes provided therein for the purpose.

In carrying out this object, the ink well is constructed preferably in two main parts comprising a holder adapted to fit into the hole in the desk or other writing support, and to receive therein an ink receptacle or cup. The holder is so constructed preferably that will fit different sized holes and readily accommodate itself thereto, and be secured eifectively in the hole either when this is provided as a countersunk portion of the writing surface, or a hole directly therethrough. The ink cup is designed to fit snugly in the holder not only to facilitate the dipping of pens therein but also for the prevention of ink waste, and also provision is made for securing the cup in the holder against accidental and unauthorized removal therefrom.

This embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a top plan view of the ink well in place in desk or writing surface;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section through the desk on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the ink well in elevation;

Fig. 3 is side elevation of the ink well removed with the cup and holder in disassembled relation;

Fig. i is a vertical cross-section through the ink well substantially on the line 4-l of Fig. 1;

5 is a horizontal sectional view therethrough on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the holder;

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view thereof; and

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross-section therethrough on the line 8--8 of Fig. 7.

In the embodiment of the invention as illustrated, the ink well is shown as made of two main component parts, one of which is ada )tcd to be mounted in a desk or other writing surfaceand forms a holder for the ink receptacle or cup. These parts preferably are made of noncorrosive materials, such as stainless steel or Monel metal. The writing surface or desk is designated generally at I) and is shown as having a hole H formed therein. The holder is designated generally by the numeral. i. and is adapted to be inserted into the hole H and to receive and support the ink receptacle or cup 2.

The holder 1 is constructed with a surrounding wall 3, shown as cylindrical, substantially to fit the hole H, within which it is supp ed by a wide flange 4 at the upper end of the wall 3. The flange 4 preferably is made relatively wide so as to cover the largest hole that may be en countered in service and which will form an effective support to the ink well therein. This flange preferably is so made as to fit and cover any hole from one and three-quarter inches to two and one-eighth inches in diameter. The holder 1 is shown as closed by a bottom 5. which is shown as dished to accommodate the cup 2 therein, although the shape thereof may be varied as desired.

The surrounding wall 3 is formed preferably with an offset annular shoulder 5 adjacent the bottom 5 or intermediate the height thereof to form a stop or support for the cup 2, as hereinafter described. Furthermore, the side wall 3 is shown as formed with indentations l therein, three of which are shown spaced apart in triangular relation to form a friction fit with the cup 2 inserted therein.

The holder i is provided also with prongs 8 that are struck outward from the side wall 3 above the annular shoulder S in the form illustrated so as to lock the holder firmly in the hole H without the necessity for using any tools or fastenings for the purpose. The upper ends of the prongs 8 are curved outward at the :oints so as to insure that these prongs will. dig into the side of the hole even though the latter is just large enough to accommodate the holder I. This will insure the fastening engagement of the prongs in the side wall of the hole even when there is a relatively tight fit thereoetween, which otherwise would not allow lateral deflection oi the prongs.

The cup 2 is shown as formed with a surrounding wall Ill having a dished bottom ll integral therewith to form an ink receptacle. The wide but shallow cup makes it possible to hold a large supply of ink and at the same time it prevents the pen from being pushed so deep into the ink that it would absorb an excess quantity of the ink, which would be wasteful. The shape of the bottom portion of the cup makes it possible to use substantially all of the ink therefrom.

The side wall ill of the cup is formed with an offset annular shoulder 82 in position to co operate with the shoulder 6 of the holder to form a stop or support for the cup within the holder, if that should be required. The portion of the side wall It below the shoulder i2 tapers inwardly toward the periphery of the bottom il in the form shown, to facilitate the insertion of this portion into the embracing projections I of the holder which form a friction fit therewith to prevent accidental and unauthorized removal of the cup from the holder. Nevertheless, the parts are removably connected together,

capable of separation when required. The top of the cup 2 is closed by a cover generally indicated at [3, the periphery of which is spun over and around the rim of the cup as indicated at I 4, to form a permanent and tight connection therewith. Inwardly of the rim portion id, the cover is formed with a segmental depressed portion 15 within which a segmental opening it is formed for access to the interior of the cup 2. A sliding valve [1 is fitted within the d pressed portion 15 of the cover to which it is pivoted at i 8, capable of back and forth sliding movement in an arcuate direction as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1. The arcuate length of opening 16 approximates 90, the arcuate length of valve l1 approaching 180. The valve is superposed on the top of the depressed zone, with 2'- opening 16 extending through the wall of the depressed zone. Since it is desired to limit the length of arcuate movement of the valve, the cover 13 includes an arcuate zone 13a, which is above the top plane of the depressed zone, as indicated in Fig. 1, the arcuate length of this.

zone being suificiently less than 90 as to assure the presence of a lip at the end of opening it adjacent zone I 3a on to which the valve may extend when in position to close the opening.

The top plane of zone l3c practically corresponds with the top plane of the valve or shutter closure I! so that the opposite end of such zone forms a stop to limit the opening movement of the valve, both ends of zone Isa thus serving as stop means for limiting the length of arcuate movement of the valve. This cover construction is so designed in the form illustrated as to permit ink to be poured in freely without the use of a funnel, and yet allows the person suificient room to see into the well during the pouring operation. The lid or valve I? may be moved to either open or closed extreme position so as to cover the opening 16 or to allow access therethrough as desired.

The assembly thus described presents a number of advantages, among which the following may be referred to: V

The assembly is of somewhat shallow depth. the distance between parallel planes of the top and bottom faces of the holder or supporting element i being materially less than the width dimension of the assembly on either of such planes. Hence, while the depth of the ink Well is materially less than the depth heretofore generally employed, the capacity of the well is not materially reduced, due to the increased width, the depth permitting adequate wetting of the inserted pen point. This assures that the assembly can be completely installed within the usual desk topwithout having any portion thereof projecting below the bottom plane of such top, and hence is not afiected by the desk contents. And since the bottom of supporting element I is itself closed by the arcuate face, it is not possible for any of such desk contents to contact the ink well or to apply any pressure on the bottom of the well such as could disturb the relation of the well to its support.

Both the ink well and the support are formed with inwardly-extending zones (shoulder 6), these being located practically below the prong zone of the supporting'element l and practically above the indentations 1. While the frictional engagement of the lower zone of the ink well with indentations 1 may prevent actual seating of the well zone on the support zone, especially when first installed, any spacing is so small as to prevent any material canting of the well by downward pressure applied at a localized point on the bead l4, so that such pressure does not materially disturb the frictional holding of the well within the support. The bead l4 practically contacts the inner face of the wall of the support so that no external prying action can readily take place or the well be bodily moved, other than in a downward direction, with the latter active to increase the value of the friction holding due to the tapered characteristic of the lower zone of the well. Actually, the well can be removed from its support only by upward pull applied to the under surface of the cover in the axis zone of the latter, and by exerting a pull suificient to dislodge the tapered face relative to the indentations; while such pressure could be applied by a finger, the latter must inevit ably enter the ink content, so that a special tool would be needed.

As will be understood, the opening in the desk is of such dimensions as to freely receive the vertical wall of the major diameter of the well, but is sufliciently less than the projected length of prongs 8 as to ensure that the pointed ends of the latter will penetrate the wall of the opening.- Since the support is of sheet metaL'and the prongs or tongues are bent outward in fashioning the support, it is apparent that there will be an inward yielding of the prongs as the support is being inserted, the wall dimensions causing wall contact with the body of the prong below the point zone, so that continued downward pressure on the support will tend to cam the prongs inward. When the support becomes seated, the tendency of the prongs to resume their initial status causes the pointed ends to dig into the opening wall; desk tops are generally of wood which carries a grain formation, and as a result, the wall of an opening therein will present many varied relationships to the grain formation, so that the spacing of the prongs places these in varied relation to the grain, assuring that penetration of the prong pointed ends into the wall will follow to a greater or less extent dependent upon the particular grain forma-.- tion present at the point location. As is apparent, any upward pressure'applied to the closed bottom of the support will simply tend to increase the penetration by the prongs, when the support becomes anchored'in the desk-top opening.

Since the indentations are below the top plane of the inwardly-extending zone or ledge 6, and thus below the anchoring zone of the support provided by prongs 8, any outward pressure on the indentations provided by the lower tapered zone of the ink well will be resisted by the width of this zone so that a definite frictional value will be developed as the well is moved downward, the value increasing as greater pressure is applied. And any yield of the indentations in presence of heavy downward pressure on the well would tend to more firmly anchor the support within the opening wall.

By constructing the ink well of metal stamp ings, as shown, it may be manufactured very inexpensively and yet will be effective for the purpose described. It may be installed readily under different conditions, but without special fastenings, and yet will be secured effectively in place. Both the holder and the cup are effectively locked in position and the latter is retained against unauthorized removal. Moreover, by constructing the cup of metal, non-corrosive metal or other non-corrosive material, the eX- pense and waste of frequent replacement is eliminated. Likewise, by the use of non-corrosive materials which do not break as easily as glass, the frequent replacement heretofore required by previous constructions due to breakage is eliminated.

The ink well according to this construction is capable of being inserted in the top of the desk or other writing surface without protruding below the top thereof, as frequently provided heretofore. Therefore, the ink well does not obstruct the full use of the space beneath the top and it eliminates the possibility of accidental removal due to the pushing or moving of books and other objects into the desk beneath the ink well, which may cause an accidental removal thereof, which has been a serious objection heretofore with other ink wells. Furthermore, the present inkwell requires no well guard inside the desk and allows full use of the desk space.

The invention is illustrated and described in one embodiment, but it is appreciated that modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the invention, except as set forth specifically in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an ink well assembly for use with desks and the like, wherein the desk top has its assembly receiving opening of uniform circular dimensions between its top and bottom planes, and wherein the assembly is supported by an annular flange on the top plane of such opening and extends into the opening, an assembly of,

such type comprising an open-top casing of sheet material and cup-shaped in axial section with its bottom arcuate, said casing having integral means cooperative with the wall of the desk opening intermediate the opening top and bottom planes for anchoring the casing in position relative to such opening, said casing having an annular inwardly-extending seat zone below said means and intermediate the top and bottom planes of the assembly, the arcuate wall of the casing lying between the desk opening top and bottom planes, and an ink well element of sheet material having an annular intermediate, inwardly-extending zone adapted to overlie the casing seat zone, said element being of cupshape with an arcuate bottom and provided with a controllable cover formation for controlling access to the interior of the well, said assembly having a distance dimension between its upper and lower faces materially less than the length of a diameter of the assembly on either the upper or lower plane with the element located between such planes of the desk top opening and with the cover formation substantially closing the open top of the casing, said casing and element being frictionally engaged within a zone below the casing anchoring means and. spaced from the element bottom.

2. On assembly as in claim 1 characterized in that the casing securing means is in the form of pointed prongs projecting outwardly and upwardly from the casing wall above the seat zone and below and spaced from the assembly support position at the top of the assembly.

3. An assembly as in claim 2 characterized in that the casing wall presents upper and lower portions spaced by the seat zone with the upper portion of greater diameter and carrying the prongs.

4. An assembly as in claim 3 characterized in that the lower portion of the casing wall includes a plurality of individual spaced apart inwardlyprojected zones integral with the casing wall and adapted to cooperate with the ink well element whereby said element is frictionally engaged relative to the casing.

5. An assembly as in claim 1 characterized in that the cover formation is formed with an arcuate opening and carries an arcuate shutter of substantially semi-circular contour and pivotally positioned relative to the axis of the assembly and swingable between open and closed positions relative to such arcuate opening by movements on such axis.

6. An assembly as in claim 5 characterized in that the cover formation is secured to the top zone of the ink well element by an annular bead, the formation presenting its exposed surface as formed with an arcuate indented zone within which the arcuate opening is located, the shutter being mounted within such zone in exposed relation to overlie the indentation bottom and be movable in its plane between positions overlying the opening and completely exposing the opening, the cover formation including an arcuate zone having its top plane above the top plane of the depressed zone and positioned to locate its ends as stops to limit the arcuate length of movement of the shutter.

HAZEL S. ROBERTS, Administratria: of the Estate of Samuel J. Roberts,

Deceased.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 58,952 Munger Oct. 16, 1866 71,686 Bell Dec. 3, 1867 830,634 Ashley Sept. 11, 1906 850,479 Jacobus Apr. 16, 1907 1,114,922 Sengbusch Oct. 27, 1914 1,116,758 Tannewitz Nov. 10, 1914 1,573,943 Ivey Feb. 23, 1926 1,898,053 Hook Feb. 21, 1933 1,949,493 Sengbusch Mar. 6, 1934 2,161,832 Oxley June 13, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 219,678 Switzerland June 1, 1942 

